Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-19
WHITTIER Are We Tending socially:
where VIII IL End?
10 MC Editor Of NE DispdlcN:

| am now far advanced IN ne. was
horn and raised near Washington city.
| had the pleasure and honor OF attend
ing the public levees of Presidents
Pierce and Buchanan every winter du-
ring their Administration in Washing
ton. There never were more graceful
and accomplished ladies than Mrs.
Pierce and Miss Lane; and it WAS a
magnificent sight to see them during
reception-hours surrounded by throng
of the elite of the city. The wives OF
senators, Cabinet officers, and members
of the House, and also Of private citi-
zens, mingling in vast galaxy OF
Leauty-GH on cquat terms sOctdfty,
and no pretensions of rank thought Of
It is n well-known fact that during
the Administration of General Grant
he formed a court with United
States marshal as grand chamberlain,
who drew line as to rank and as to
who had precedence IN his shoddy
court. and whose decision was final and
no appeal therefrOm: The wife OF the
President being the "frst lady OF the
land" those of the Cabinet being
second. members of the Senato third,
and so on to the end OF the chapter.
! his "grand chamberlain was kept
in office by Mr. Garfield, and also by
President Arthur at the expense OF the
country, and also his companion OF the
"scissors and paste-pot, " whose duty 1t
was to look over the papers and cut out
everything pertaining to the eXaltatlon
of the President and his court and
paste the article in vast scrap-book
for future reference. When Mr. Cleye-
land came into Office and "boOted
this gentleman out, with his paste-pot
and scissors after him, there were
plaudits from many of the Democratic
papers and hopes expressed that the
"gland chamberlain would share the
same fate; but the President has re-
tanned him in Office. And this exclusive
c0Stc has extended from il few silly
women, "crazy on the subject OF their
own importance, to senator's, Cabinet
members, and others, who have been
looking with disdain on each other. |
enclose You an article cut from the
Mqji ma Erprcys, n Republican paper
Of New York city:
"Thc warfare between the ladies Of
the Cabinet and the ladies Of tie Senate
seems to i've settled. On Wednesday nu-
mcroVs senator's were out paying Cabi-
net calls. Senators Vance, Voorhees,,
Mitchell, Sherman. andothers were ont
With members of their families calling
at the houses OF the Cabinet officers.
Senator Sherman was accompanied by
his adopted daughter, Miss Mary Sher-
man, who is one Of the seasons do6U-
f0nfcs. and who is said to be the near
est thing on earth to the heart of the
hardest and the brainiest man III the
Senate. IT is said that this young lazy
can wrap Senator Sherman around hef
little finger. and she thinks ne is the
easiest ola gentleman in the world t.
get along with.
The country IS to- Dc congratulated.
The "gand chamberlain has decided
that the members Of the Cabinet and
senators can shake hands and pas, the
commitments of the new year: an the
nation can be saved further de8r'la-
ton. see 10y a Washington paper
that during a reception the wife oi a
member OF the Housa had refused TO
stand in the position assigned her by
tie "gmnd chamberlain. The reason
was that the wife OF q senator twho had
prcccdcnce). and who had been rais'd
in the same yillaee-shc in high Gic,
the wife Of the senator III o5seurity -
she with flood Of teMs had to take
her position. Was anything ever 81
shoddy? The laws OF the land demand
that no foreign Ininist q or any Ona con-
nccted with the Government shall use
any dress but that of an ordinary citi-
zen. Tut look at the gauGy livaries on
tie avenues in answer to If. We think
it the duty oil the press to take hold OF
this matter and denoUncy this attempt
10 hold shoddy court III q republican
eovenmcnt-to be laughed at by sen
sible foreigners and held in contempt
by every sensible man in the country.
If properly ventilated the Democratic
party may vet get back into the old po-
iitical "Iuts of Pierce and Buchanan,
and scatter tine present polished
blick-bat aIistocmcy 60 the four WINS
of heaven.
Very respectfully, S. J.. 4.
MATTHEWS COUNTY, Va, jan. i, 1881.